Who We Are Founded in 1892, the Parks and Recreation Department s mission is Helping Des Moines Live Well, Play Hard and Protect the Earth. Our department is responsible for the management of 76 parks, over 4,000 acres of parkland, 81 miles of trails, seven cemeteries and numerous municipal facilities. In addition, we offer numerous programs in the areas of sports, urban conservation, environment education, sport instruction, volunteerism, rentals and special events. 58 full-time and over 200 seasonal employees
Department Structure Parks Recreation Planning Administration
Parks Division
Parks Division Responsible for maintaining 76 parks and all the facilities and grounds within the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. This includes all park buildings, 65 playgrounds, sport courts, 5 pools and aquatic centers, 10 wading pools, six spraygrounds, mowed turf, prairie areas, woodlands, litter and trash removal and snow removal. Also included are 81 miles paved and nature trails, seven municipal cemeteries, landscaped areas, flowerbeds, trees and the city greenhouse.
Recreation Division
Recreation Division Responsible for management of sports, aquatics, community centers and environmental education. Offers a wide range of programs and special events to match people s diverse interests, using our top rate facilities conveniently located for all who participate. Focused on excellence in leisure activities as part of a larger commitment to health, wellness, and the overall betterment of people s lives.
Planning and Development Division
Planning and Development Division Designs, plans and implements park, recreation, natural resource, trails and open space projects that facilitate safe, inviting and memorable use of these facilities for enjoyment by citizens of and visitors to the City of Des Moines. Management of Park Improvement section of the City s Capital Improvement Program by supervising and implementing planning and construction projects, averaging $6.4 million per year.
Administration Division
Administration Division Overall operation and management of the department including front line customer service over the phones, online and in person at the Richard A. Clark Municipal Service Center, volunteerism and the marketing and promotion of department facilities and programs. Responsible for the safety of the department s permanent and seasonal team members. Oversees the operating budgets and creating partnerships with other organizations.
Financials
Financials Where Does Your Property Tax Dollar Go?
Financials City of Des Moines
Financials - City of Des Moines
Financials Parks and Recreation
What do you get for $129?
What do you get for $129?
People
Governance Mayor Frank Cownie City Council Bill Gray, Ward I Linda Westergaard, Ward II Christine Hensley, Ward III Joe Gatto, Ward IV Christopher Coleman, At Large Skip Moore, At Large
Governance Appointed Park and Recreation Board George Davis, Chair Heather Anderson Connie Boesen Kimberley Boggus Jeffrey C. Clubb Victoria Facto Cynde Fanter Paula J. Feltner Chelsea Lepley Bill Nassif Loyd W. Ogle Joel Potter Sammy F. Pugh Vincent J. Scavo Andrea Woodard
Subcommittees Citizen Cemetery Advisory Committee Citizen Golf Advisory Committee Rose Garden Trails And Greenways Urban Conservation Advisory Committee
Places
Water Facilities Five Pools and Aquatic Centers Ten Traditional Wading Pools Four Splash Pools Six Spraygrounds Two Fountains
Cemeteries Seven Municipal Cemeteries Elm Grove Glendale Laurel Hill Oak Grove Sims Woodland and St. Ambrose Online Database to Search Over 170,000 Interments Above and Below Ground Options
Community Centers Four Mile Yearly Attendance - 41,725 Pioneer Columbus Yearly Attendance - 56,412 Newly Remodeled Year-Round Programming Options
Dog Parks Three Facilities Ewing Reno Memorial Riverwalk Annual Permit Cost is $20
Golf Courses Three Public Courses Waveland Bright Grandview A.H. Blank Nearly 100,000 rounds played in 2016 Season passes Rent Clubhouses for Private Events
Greenhouse Located at 2501 SE Maury Street 15,000 Square Foot Facility Nearly 320,000 Annuals Grown In-House Yearly Vast Majority Of Labor Supplied By Volunteers
Shelters Nine Enclosed Facilities Rented 670 Times in 2016 43 Open-Air Facilities Rented 871 Times in 2016 Some Are Available For Reservation Others Are First Come, First Serve Shelters
Sports Complexes Greater Des Moines Softball Complex James W. Cownie Baseball Park James W. Cownie Soccer Park
Parks 76 parks - Five Signature facilities - Ewing, Union, Greenwood, Gray's Lake and John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park Basketball Courts Concessions Boat and Bicycle Rentals Disc Golf Courses Enclosed and Open-Air Shelters Fishing Ponds Natural Playscape Nature Trails Picnic Areas with Tables and Grills Playgrounds Skate Park Sledding Hills Softball Fields Soccer Fields Tennis Courts Volleyball Courts
Trails Most Popular and Most Used Amenities in Park System 63 Miles of Paved Multi-use Connect to Over 500 Miles of Regional Trails 18 Soft Surface Nature Trails in three Parks
Programs
Athletics Indoor and Outdoor Offerings for All Ages Pee Wee Youth Adult Team and Individual
Aquatics Learn to Swim Family Swim Night Teen Night Doggie Dive Lifeguard and Swim Instructor Certification
Environmental Education Bald Eagle Day Snowshoeing Bluebird Boxes Birding Star Party Stand-up Paddleboard Instruction
GRASP Greater Des Moines Recreational Activity Scholarship Program Income Based Discounts on Swim Passes, Lessons and Recreation Programs Validated by IMPACT Community Action Partnership
Rentals Boats, Bikes, Standup Paddleboards and Terrace at Gray s Lake Park Community Centers Fields and open spaces Shelters Rose Garden at Greenwood Park Sylvan Theater Simon Estes Amphitheater Trails Wading Pools
Special Events and Other Programs Earth Day Trash Bash Father Daughter Dance/Mother Son Fun Free Flicks neighborhood movie program Mayor s Annual Ride and Run Music Camp Superhero Princess Fun Run Yoga Yoga in the Park Yoga at the Hub Yoga at the Plaza
Projects
Partners
Volunteerism
Friends of Des Moines Parks Mission: To preserve, protect, improve, and promote the use of Des Moines parks, greenways, and recreational programs for the benefit of all neighborhoods and citizens. Visit their website to join at friendsofdmparks.org
Friends of Des Moines Parks Projects During 2016 The Friends provided over $100,000 to support: Community Center Wellness Equipment Youth Sports Programs Jersey Sponsorship Cemetery Monument Restoration Ewing Park Nature Trails Fairmont Park Playground Sponsorship Swimming Lesson Scholarships Stand Up Paddle Boards for Environmental Education Programs Father Daughter Dance Sponsorship Lilac Sunday Sponsorship Earth Day Trash Bash Sponsorship Monarch Monitoring Program Materials
Des Moines Public Schools Third Year of a Joint Partnership to Provide Youth Sports Programming for Boys and Girls In Grades 1-7 Flag Football, Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball
Rebuilding Together Collaboration with Meredith Corporation has transformed parks and neighborhoods through 14 annual Rebuilding Together work days. Recent projects include: Redhead Park Burke Park Pocket Park 1 Columbus Park
Information
Website dmparks.org
Social Media /desmoinesparks /desmoinesparks /desmoinesparks /desmoinesparks /DSMParksDepartment